624 



NEW ENGLAm) FAR]\IER. 



Not. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 THE GARDEN" FOR FARMERS, 



MECIIASIC8 AND PROFESSIONAL MEN. 



The present is the season for enjoying the 

 products of the garden, rather than for talking 

 about its cultivation, yet I wish to say a few 

 words, regarding its care and culture, even at 

 this time ; for spring is coining again, and 

 then the garden will claim our attention. 



According to my experience and observa- 

 tion, the gardens, too generally in the country 

 especially, has been ai.d is still most wofuUy 

 neglected. But it would not be so, I think, if 

 there was any just conception of the pleasure and 

 comfort which a well cultivated one affords, 

 and the prolit it gives. I say profit, for ordina- 

 rily, I believe, no piece of land of equal size 

 will yield so large return to the faithful culti- 

 vator for the outlay of time and means as the 

 garden. 



I say nothing of the luxury it is to have an 

 abundance of good fresh vegetables of all 

 kinds in their season for the table ; but base 

 my argument on its economy. In these days 

 of high prices of all kinds of provision, it is a 

 source of solid satisfaction, as well as profit, 

 to have such a generous supply of wholesome 

 food as the garden affords, without a single 

 demand upon the diminishing purse, to say 

 nothing of the draught upon the temper. And 

 I believe it is a principle of sound political 

 economy, — I know it is of domestic,— to coin 

 the labor of our hands, or the thoughts of the 

 mind into necessary articles of life ; to change 

 the, useless into the useful; the unseemly into 

 the beautiful. And this is what every one does 

 who cultivates a good vegetable garden, and 

 makes it not only a thing of beauty but of 

 general utility. 



But I fear this matter is not so well under- 

 stood as it should be, by most of our farmers, 

 merchants, mechanics and professional men, 

 especially the ministers, for whose interest, as 

 much as that of any other class, I write. 

 Judging from my experience and observation, 

 and they have been somewhat extended, I 

 am compelled to say, that in the country, the 

 garden is a matter in too many instances most 

 sadly misunderstood. 



For the last twenty years, owing to the un- 

 settled state of my professional life, I have 

 had the charge of eight different gardens, 

 and in every instance I have found them 

 in a condition of sad and heart-aching de- 

 moralization. During this time I have suc- 

 ceeded to the occupancy of the estates sever- 

 ally of three mechanics and two ministers, 

 one merciiant, one lawyer and one farmer ; 

 all of which, as I found them, were living 

 witnesses of indolence, indifft^rence, or gross 

 neglect, being filled with rank weeds and foul 

 matter, which I had to remove, to say noth- 

 ing of their uncounted progeny which after- 

 wards I had to subdue and destroy, before I 

 could make sure of any satisfactory results 



from my labor. Of these eight gardens the 

 one that was left in the best condition was that 

 cared for by the lawyer ; the worst, those that 

 belonged to the ministers and farmer. Now to 

 my mind such neglect of the garden is wrong. 

 I do not say that it is general ; I am happy to 

 know that there are exceptions, but as I ride 

 through the country and look into the gardens 

 of friends or strangers, I find too often a more 

 rank and luxuriant growth of weeds than of 

 fresh and needful -vegetables. 



IMuch of this is owing to the fact, doubtless, 

 that the garden does not ocup" the place in 

 the popular mind which its merits demand ; but 

 is regarded rather as a customary appendage 

 to the house, to be attended to at leisure, or 

 put off to a more convenient season ; yet we 

 seldom find one who does not truly enjoy the 

 varied production of the garden. 



To the farmer, under the press of work that 

 constantly bears upon him in the spring and 

 summer, there may be some show of excuse ; 

 but none usually for the mechanic or profes- 

 sional man, and especially the minister. He 

 has or may have time to take the very best 

 care of his garden, and thereby not only im- 

 prove his health and increase his means, but 

 enlarge his usefulness ; for without health a 

 minister is shorn of the rijj;ht arm of his 

 power. Not that this is all, but without health 

 the finest powers of heart and mind will fail to 

 do their legitimate work, — that of reaching 

 other hearts, and arousing them to activity in 

 the sacred work of humanity and of God. 

 Health is not a thing of luck or chance ; it is a 

 manufactured product, as much as a piece of 

 cloth or any machine ; and there *is no other 

 way by which we can secure this blessing, than 

 by paying its ptice and complying with its 

 conditions, — one of which is cheap, out-door 

 exercise ; nay, muscular labor, which in a 

 measure we get by faithfully attending to our 

 gardens. 



In conclusion, let me urge it upon all who 

 are blessed with the privilege of having a 

 garden, to see to it that they are not guilty of 

 letting it run up to weeds, but that it shall pro- 

 duce an abundant supply of useful and whole- 

 some vegetables for the tal)le. S. Bahbek. 



Bernardston, Mass., Sept. 3, 18C8. 



Rkmarks. — We regard the advice of our 

 correspondent, particuLirly to ministers, as 

 most timely, and for the j>urpose of commend- 

 ing his suggestions to their attention we may 

 be excused for saying that the writer is him- 

 self a clergyman. 



In the early history of New England, the 

 clergy were healthy, and remarkable alike for 

 long lives and long pastorates ; while of late 

 they are the most sickly of all the professions 

 and occupations among us, and their "situa- 

 tions" if not their lives have become alarm- 



